The Awareness Center closed. We operated from April 30, 1999 - April 30, 2014. This site is being provided for educational & historical purposes.
We were the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault (JCASA); and were dedicated to ending sexual violence in Jewish communities globally. We did our best to operate as the make a wish foundation for Jewish survivors of sex crimes. In the past we offered a clearinghouse of information, resources, support and advocacy.

For years there have been rumors that boys associated with the Toronto Boys Choir were being abused, yet there has never been a formal investigation until now.

As of 2014, Rabbi Heshi Nussbaum is considered a convicted sex offender.The Toronto Police arrested Heshi Nussbaum on August 31, 2012 on charges that he molested children between January 1972 through December 1975 while working as a private religous school teacher in the Bathurst Street / Steels Avenue area. The alleged victim was 12-years old at the time and was abused at both the school and during summer camp. Nussbaum was charged with indecent assault of a male.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416−808−3205,
Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416−222−TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or leave a tip on Facebook.

The Awareness Center was first made aware of the allegations made against Heshy Nussbuam back in 2001,
yet at that time no survivors were willing to come forward. We are
grateful to the survivors who finally had the courage to come forward to
make police reports. You should consider yourselves to be heroes.

Heshy's father Rabbi Moshe Nussbaum, was one of the
founders of the Agudah movement in Toronto, and of Agudath Israel
Congregation. He was also an active member on the Vaad Hapoel Agudath
Israel, the governing body of the International Agudah organization. His father
was also active in Eitz Chaim schools, and was a found of Bais Yaakov
High School. In addition, he helped found Camp Agudah in Port Carling,
and Perspectives, the newspaper of Toronto Agudah.

Heshy’s father Rabbi Moshe Nussbaum, was one of the founders of the
Agudah movement in Toronto, and of Agudath Israel Congregation.He was
also an active member on the Vaad Hapoel Agudath Israel, the governing
body of the International Agudah organization. He was also active in
Eitz Chaim schools, and was a found of Bais Yaakov High School. In
addition, he helped found Camp Agudah in Port Carling, and Perspectives,
the newspaper of Toronto Agudah.

"35-40 years ago the UO yeshiva I attended had a Rabbi Heshy Nussbaum, who was also a summer counselor at Camp Mogen Avraham. Problem was Rabbi Nussbaum was a homosexual pedophile. We the kids, who were not his prey, knew about it, but we did not have the language needed to describe it to our parents. I cannot begin to fathom what his prey must have experienced."

After Camp Mogen Avraham, Heshy ran the Toronto Boys Choir until allegations surfaced again. Thanks to the stature of his father and uncle (they were prominent rabbonim in Toronto and in the Agudah movement) he continues in Toronto with a job for life in Kashruth and occasionaly tutors children on the side. In the mid-1980s he was brought in to Winnipeg to run an NCSY shabbaton.

Around the same time, Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, in Williamsburg, had the MickeyMouse Club, where Rebbes and students would engage in homosexual activity.

What consenting adults do in private is their business. But pedophilesshould not be pedagogues.

By the mid 1980's Rabbi Heshi Nussbaum had been exposed as a pedophile in Toronto, Canada. At that time his wife divorced him. It was around the same time that Rabbi Ephraim Bryks brought him into Winnipeg (Canada) to help run a NCSY shabbaton. Several women in the community found out that Heshi was divorced and approached Bryks' wife Yochevad offering to set up dates for Heshy while he was in Winnipeg. Yochevad told these women that "she was aware of the reasons for Heshy's divorce and it would not be appropriate to set him up on dates with women."

It is believed that Heshi was raised in Toronto. He worked around the late 1980's or early 1970's in several camps in New York. One of which was Camp Mogen Avrahom in New York. This was the first location where allegations of child sexual abuse were made.

After that he returned to Toronto (early to mid 1970's) and became choirmaster of the Toronto Boys choir (a Jewish boys choir). Heshy might have also worked as a teacher at the Eitz Chaim boys school and Camp Agudah summer camp (both were founded by his family), yet this has not been confirmed.

A source has told me that a rabbi in the US had warned the rabbis in Toronto that Heshi should not be working with kids, yet the warnings were ignored.

Apparently, when Heshy was caught in Toronto, major rabbonim in North America (don't know names) were approached for assistance and he was removed. His reputation became common knowledge in Toronto.

My source told me that Rabbi Heshi Nussbaum was from a very prominent family who quieted things up and that he had been sent to an institution where they send priests caught doing the same thing, and that afterwards his family declared him cured.

It is unknown to what extent or whether the police/child family services were involved. There are rumors that he may have made a deal to avoid jail, yet this has not been confirmed.

There are also rumors that a number of young boys who had contact with Rabbi Heshi Nussbaum committed suicide. Unfortunately, suicide and attempted suicides are not uncommon for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

As of 2003, Heshy worked as a Mashgiach and spends three to for days a week at a farm outside the city supervising Halav Yisroel milk production (not sure if this is for COR, MK or another). He also delivers flowers for weddings although there are at times specific requests that someone else delivers them.

A source told me that Rabbi Heshy Nussbaum also continues to tutor students, and also travels to Israel on a regular basis.

At this time there it is believed there are no newspaper articles that covered this case. Heshy's father Rabbi Moshe Nussbaum, was one of the founders of the Agudah movement in Toronto, and of Agudath Israel Congregation. He was also an active member on the Vaad Hapoel Agudath Israel, the governing body of the International Agudah organization. He was also active in Eitz Chaim schools, and was a found of Bais Yaakov High School. In addition, he helped found Camp Agudah in Port Carling, and Perspectives, the newspaper of Toronto Agudah.

If you are a survivor of Rabbi Heshy Nussbaum please contact: The Awareness Center.

The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public
aware of an arrest made in a historical sexual assault investigation
into sexual assaults alleged to have occurred between January 1972 and
December 1975. It is alleged that Heshi Nussbaum: 1) t while working as a
teacher in a private religious school in the Bathurst Street/Steeles
Avenue area, sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy at the school and
during a summer camp, 2) the assaults continued over a three-year
period.

TORONTO – A 71-year-old teacher has been charged in a sex assault that dates back 40 years when he was teaching in Thornhill.

Toronto Police said Friday the case stems from allegations of
inappropriate sexual behaviour with a young boy between January 1972 and
December 1975.

“It is alleged that the accused, while working as a teacher in a
private religious school in the Bathurst St. and Steeles Ave. area,
sexually assaulted a (then) 12-year-old boy at the school and during a
summer camp,” police said.

The assaults allegedly continued for three years.

Heshi Nussbaum, of Toronto, was charged Wednesday with indecent assault.

Police said they are concerned about the possibility of other victims.

Anyone with information regarding this case should contact
investigators at 416-808-3205 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

Toronto — A 71-year-old rabbi in Toronto has been charged with
indecent assault for allegedly sexually assaulting a student 40 years
ago.

Heshi Nussbaum appeared in court on Wednesday to face the charge, the Toronto Sun reported.Nussbaum allegedly sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy at a “private
religious school” that he taught at and during a summer camp between
1972 and 1975, according to Toronto Police.

There also may be more victims, according to a statement issued by the Toronto Police on Friday.

(JTA) — A 71-year-old rabbi in Toronto has been charged with indecent
assault for allegedly sexually assaulting a student 40 years ago.

Heshi Nussbaum appeared in court on Wednesday to face the charge, the Toronto Sun reported.Nussbaum allegedly sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy at a “private
religious school” that he taught at and during a summer camp between
1972 and 1975, according to Toronto Police.

There also may be more victims, according to a statement issued by the Toronto Police on Friday.

TORONTO – Toronto police are asking victims of an alleged pedophile who worked in a Jewish day school and summer camp to come forward.

In a news release, Toronto Police Services said Heshi Nussbaum, 71, had been charged with “indecent assault male.”

The alleged sexual assaults took place between January 1972 and December 1975.

Police believe there may be more victims and are asking anyone with information to contact them.“It is alleged that the accused [Nussbaum], while working as a
teacher in a private religious school in the Bathurst Street/Steeles
Avenue area, sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy at the school and
during a summer camp.”

“Police believe there may be more victims.”

Rabbi Dan Rand, executive vice-president of Eitz Chaim Schools,
acknowledged that Nussbaum worked as a teacher at the school in the
early 1970s. “After an investigation, we can confirm that to the best of
our knowledge, at no time did a complaint or allegation come from a
student or parent at the school,” he said.

Nussbaum was let go when the school heard “allegations from a camp that was unaffiliated with the school.

“When we heard of the allegations, he was terminated,” Rabbi Rand stated.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416−808−3205,
Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416−222−TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or leave a tip on Facebook.

n Canada there is no statute of limitations on sex crimes against children, both criminally or civilly. Back in 2012, several adult men came forward filing police reports against Rabbi Heshi Nussbaum, stating he sexually assaulted them as teenagers. Earlier this year, Heshi Nussbaum pled guilty to the sex charges relating to his abusing 6 boys under his care. All three civil suit have been filed by attorney Simona T. Jellinek.

As policy the names of the victimized by sex crimes are protected and in this article will be referred to as “Survivor A”, “Survivor B” and “Survivor C.”

“Survivor A”, is an adult male who is now forty-six, states that when he was thirteen-years-old, he was sexually assaulted by Heshi Nussbaum, who was the survivors teacher at the time while he was a student at the Eitz Chaim Schools. The allegedly were made aware of the crime, yet failed to report the both the neglect and abuse of its students.

Back in 1982, the survivor was on a school trip to Maple Lake lodge, which was organized by Eitz Chaim. Rabbi Nussbaum, who recently became a convicted sex offender, supervised the trip. In the official issued statement submitted to the court, the survivors states that he was subjected to heinous sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hands of Heshi Nussbaum.

Rabbi Nussbaum sexually assaulted the survivor approximately two days after the child arrived at the lodge. The assault involved fondling and oral sex. According to the report Rabbi Nussbaum used his position as a teacher and a member of the clergy to secure the trust of his intended victims.

On October 24, 2012 “Survivor A” finally found the courage to report Heshi Nussbaum to the police. Subsequently Nussbaum plead guilty to the assault on this survivor along with five other boys.

“Survivor B”, was only twelve-years-old when he was sexually assaulted by Nussbaum back in 1972 at Camp Eitan. Nussbaum was acting as a guardian, chaperone and teacher, at an event sponsored by the Eitz Chaim School system.

In 1975, while touring Jerusalem with the Toronto Boy’s Choir, Nussbaum attempted to assault “Survivor B”, once again. The report states that Nussbaum attempted to enter the survivors bed, but the survivor curled up into a fetal position and pretended to sleep. Because Nussbaum did not get the reaction he hoped for, he left. On August, 2012, “Survivor B” reported the assault to the police

In 1973, “Survivor C” was between 12 -13 years old when he was sexually assaulted by Rabbi Heshi Nussbaum. “Survivor C” attended Eitz Chaim from Kindergarten through 9th grade. Nussbaum was the survivors forth grade teacher, until the child changed schools. “Survivor C” and his classmates were accompanied by Rabbi Nussbaum on a field trip to Montreal. While sleeping on a cot, the child was awakened by Nussbaum who was sexually assaulting him. Nussbaum had his hands down the child’s pants and was fondling him.

In 1974, Nussbaum had an overnighter with several students who were interested in attending the rabbi’s summer camp. During that overnighter, “Survivor C” was instructed to share a bed with Nussbaum. along with two other boys. Once again Nussbaum started to fondle him. The child left the room and never returned.

On August 31, 2012, Nussbaum was arrested and charged with the assault on “Survivor C”.

It is believed that there are several other survivors of Rabbi Heshi Nussbaum that never reported the sex crimes to the police. If you or anyone else was assaulted by Rabbi Heshi Nussbaum, please contact the Toronto Police Department at: 416-808-3205.

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Survivors ARE Heroes!

The Awareness Center believes ALL survivors of sex crimes should be given yellow ribbons to wear proudly.

Survivors of sexual violence (as adults and/or as a child) are just as deserving of a yellow ribbon as the men and women of our armed forces, who have been held captive as hostages or prisoners of war.

Survivors of sexual violence have been forced to learn how to survive, being held captive not by foreigners, but mostly by their own family members, teachers, camp counselors, coaches babysitters, rabbis, cantors or other trusted authority figures.

For these reasons ALL survivors of sexual violence should be seen as heroes!